WISN 12 News investigates company making sales pitch to seniors

A WISN 12 News investigation issues a word of warning to help people protect their elderly loved ones by telling a story about children and caretakers paying careful attention and keeping a watchful eye on finances.

A company called AFD Medical Advisors had deducted $299 from her mom's bank account. The company's website listed a Wisconsin address, so Thompson called the Better Business Bureau. It was already on high alert about AFD.

Fredrichs said it's been getting about 60 calls a month about AFD since mid-November. In every case, the call came from a caregiver for an elderly person -- most suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's.

"All of the people who are being contacted who are giving their information most likely won't ever file a complaint with us because they're not even going to remember the call," Fredrichs said.

Wisconsin's Department of Financial Institutions lists Aaron F. Dupont as AFD's registered agent. WISN 12 News found him at home near Wausau.

"Hi, Mr. Dupont," Henry said.

"Yes?" Dupont said

"I'm Colleen Henry from Channel 12. How are you?"

"Just fine, thank you," Dupont said.

"We're working on a story about your business," Henry said.

"OK," Dupont said.

Dupont's business claims it helps patients get prescriptions at a discount or free.

Complaints against AFD follow a pattern. A Missouri woman said AFD told her, "she needed to get a new Medicare card."

A California woman said she was told, "Medicare was going to be cancelled the next day."

A Tennessee woman said AFD told her she "had to pay right away or lose her insurance."

In each case, a caretaker learned of the transaction after AFD withdrew $299 from the elderly person's bank account. In addition to the BBB, Wisconsin's Office of Consumer Protection, and a couple police agencies are now investigating AFD.

AFD lists its address on Highway 10 in downtown Stevens Point, but when WISN 12 News arrived, it found nothing but a UPS store, where the business rents a post box.

"We came looking for AFD Medical Advisors," Henry said.

"They have a mailbox here," said Randy Staedter, who works at the UPS store.

The UPS store operator told WISN 12 News it gets a box from AFD each week that comes from Canada. The company pays him to stamp the letters and mail them to U.S. addresses.

"We've done as many as 865 in a week," Staedter said.

The UPS store said Dupont rented the box.

"We have no evidence that there is a drug program or an assistance program of any kind at all," Fredrichs said.

The BBB said none of those who complained ever got anything for their $299.